Golf club head cover

ABSTRACT

A golf club head cover for covering and quickly drying a wet golf club head. Condensed water on the golf club head is wicked through a hydrophobic layer and is then absorbed by a hydrophilic outer layer that covers the hydrophobic layer. Moisture is retained by the hydrophilic outer layer until it evaporates. In a preferred embodiment a hydrophilic inner layer surrounds the golf club head. The hydrophobic layer covers the hydrophilic inner layer. Condensed water in the hydrophilic inner layer is wicked through the hydrophobic layer and is absorbed by the hydrophilic outer layer until it evaporates. In a preferred embodiment the hydrophilic inner layer is a polyester blend where the polyester part has been chemically treated with a hydrophilic agent so that it can absorb water.

The present invention relates to golf club accessories, and in particular, to golf club head covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf club head covers are known in the prior art and are very popular with golfers due to their benefits. For example, the appearance and color of golf club head covers vary tremendously. Therefore, they help the golfer immediately recognize his golf clubs when his golf bag has been placed down next to the golf bags of other golfers. Also, golf club head covers prevent the heads from banging against each other while in the golf bag. This helps prevent damage to the heads from gouges and nicks.

Despite these benefits many golfers decide not to use golf club head covers. A major reason they give is that prior art head covers retain moisture on the heads for an unacceptable length of time. Because the heads are not allowed to dry quickly, the golfer is forced to play with a wet club head. This can detrimentally affect the out come of his shot. Additionally, if the head is not allowed to dry quickly it can suffer rust damage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,013 owned by the Faytex Corp. is incorporated by reference herein. The '013 patent discloses a shoe liner having a knit layer of a hydrophobic material and a knit layer of a hydrophilic material. ‘Hydrophobic’ refers to a property of a material that identifies it as lacking an affinity for moisture, such as non-moisture absorbing polyester. In contrast ‘hydrophilic’ refers to a property of a material, such as moisture absorbing nylon, having a strong affinity for moisture.

In the '013 patent the hydrophobic material is a polyester knit layer in the hydrophilic material is a nylon knit layer. In addition, an air chamber of monofilament yarns is maintained between the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic materials. The non-moisture absorbing polyester layer allows moisture to flow through to the nylon layer were the moisture is absorbed by the nylon layer. From the nylon layer, the moisture then passes through to the shoe upper where it then evaporates into the atmosphere.

The product disclosed in the '013 patent is currently sold by the Faytex Corp. under the federally registered trademark DRI-LEX.

It is known that moisture management properties of a fabric can be customized in polyester-cotton-blended fabrics. As stated above, untreated polyester is hydrophobic. However, it is known that polyester can be chemically treated with a hydrophilic agent so that it becomes hydrophilic (i.e., so that it can absorb water). The treated hydrophilic polyester is then able to absorb water yet it still has four times less water retention capacity than cotton. The treated polyester-cotton blended fabric can be utilized to make a very comfortable garment for the wearer. For example, the cotton part of the polyester-cotton-blended fabric absorbs water and sweat from the wearer by wicking. The polyester part, now being hydrophilic in nature, absorbs water from the cotton and transfers it directly to the atmosphere, approximately four times faster than the cotton would by itself. This brings comfort to the wearer, as the body remains dry and cool.

In contrast, in the case of a 100% cotton fabric, sweat absorption is good. However, its transfer to the atmosphere is slow. Hence, the fabric will not dry easily and will be uncomfortable to wear.

What is needed is a better golf club head cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a golf club head cover for covering and quickly drying a wet golf club head. Condensed water on the golf club head is wicked through a hydrophobic layer and is then absorbed by a hydrophilic outer layer that covers the hydrophobic layer. Moisture is retained by the hydrophilic outer layer until it evaporates. In a preferred embodiment a hydrophilic inner layer surrounds the golf club head. The hydrophobic layer covers the hydrophilic inner layer. Condensed water in the hydrophilic inner layer is wicked through the hydrophobic layer and is absorbed by the hydrophilic outer layer until it evaporates. In a preferred embodiment the hydrophilic inner layer is a polyester blend where the polyester part has been chemically treated with a hydrophilic agent so that it can absorb water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view and FIG. 3 shows a simplified view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thin polyester-cotton blend lining 2 has been sewn into the inside the head cover 10 so that it completely lines the inside of the head cover. The polyester part of polyester-cotton blend lining 2 has been chemically treated so that it is hydrophilic (i.e., able to absorb water). Side sections 4 and edge section 6 have also been sewn as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

As seen in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, side section 4 includes hydrophobic layer 13 and hydrophilic layer 15. Hydrophobic layer 13 is preferably a polyester knit layer having a yarn fineness of approximately 40-150 denier. Also, preferably hydrophilic layer 15 is a nylon knit layer having a yarn fineness of about 90 denier. In a preferred embodiment hydrophobic layer 13 and hydrophilic layer 15 are knitted together and sold as a single unit under the trademark DRI-LEX (see discussion in Background Section) and are available from the Faytex Corporation.

As shown in FIG. 1 the first preferred embodiment includes edge section 6. Preferably, edge section 6 (FIG. 2) includes a thicker nylon layer for extra durability. It is preferred to increase the durability of edge section 6 because the edge section is subject to the most wear during usage of the head cover. For example, in the first preferred embodiment, edge section 6 includes an outer nylon layer having a yarn fineness of approximately 1000 denier. Also, the first preferred embodiment includes clear plastic window 8. Clear plastic window 8 allows the golfer to read the golf club number while golf club head cover 10 is on the golf club head.

Operation of the First Preferred Embodiment

Operation of the first preferred embodiment can be explained by reference to FIG. 3. A golfer after using his golf club places head cover 10 over golf club head 12. If the club head is wet, condensed water on the club head is absorbed by polyester-cotton blend liner 2. Then the condensed water is pulled through hydrophobic layer 13 due to a wicking action caused by hydrophilic layer 15. The moisture is absorbed in hydrophilic layer 15 and retained there until it evaporates. Because the moisture is retained in hydrophilic layer 15 it is not in contact with club head 12. This drastically cuts down on the danger of rust or other water damage to the head.

Second Preferred Embodiment

A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention inner polyester-cotton blend liner 2 has been eliminated. Moisture from club head 12 is absorbed directly by hydrophilic layer 15 after condensed water has been wicked through hydrophobic layer 13. The moisture then evaporates from hydrophilic layer 15.

Third Preferred Embodiment

A third preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. The third preferred embodiment is similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that the third preferred embodiment includes hydrophobic middle layer 14. Preferably, the hydrophobic middle layer is made of polyester monofilament yarns interknitted with hydrophobic layer 13 and hydrophilic layer 15. The hydrophobic middle layer 14 creates an air chamber which makes side sections thicker so that there is increased cushioning. The extra cushioning allows for increased protection for the golf club head.

While the above description contains many specifications, the reader should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations are within its scope. For example, although it was described above how the optimum hydrophilic material is nylon and the optimum hydrophobic material is polyester, other materials could be substituted. Other possible hydrophilic materials include wool, cotton, linen, rayon, viscose and acetate. Likewise, other possible hydrophobic materials include acrylic and modacrylic. Accordingly the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples which have been given. 

1) A golf club head cover for covering and quickly drying a golf club head, comprising: A) a hydrophobic layer covering said golf club head, and B) a hydrophilic outer layer covering said at least one hydrophobic layer, wherein condensed water on said golf club head is pulled through said hydrophobic layer due to a wicking action and is absorbed by said hydrophilic outer layer until it evaporates. 2) The golf club head cover as in claim 1, further comprising a hydrophilic inner layer adjacent to said golf club head and covered by said hydrophobic layer. 3) The golf club head cover as in claim 2, wherein said hydrophilic inner layer is a polyester blend fabric. 4) The golf club head as in claim 3, wherein said polyester blend fabric comprises a polyester part that has been chemically treated so that said polyester part is hydrophilic. 5) The golf club head cover as in claim 1, wherein said at least one hydrophobic layer is a polyester knit. 6) The golf club head cover as in claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic outer layer is a nylon knit. 7) The golf club head cover as in claim 1, further comprising an air chamber hydrophobic layer between said hydrophobic layer and said hydrophilic outer layer. 8) The golf club head cover as in claim 6, wherein said air chamber hydrophobic layer comprises a plurality of monofilament polyester yarns interknitted between said at least one hydrophobic layer and said hydrophilic outer layer. 9) A golf club head cover for covering and quickly drying a golf club head, comprising: A) a hydrophilic inner layer adjacent to said golf club head, B) two side sections, each side section comprising: 1) a side section hydrophobic layer covering said hydrophilic inner layer, and 2) a side section hydrophilic outer layer covering said side section hydrophobic layer, wherein condensed water on said golf club head is pulled through said side section hydrophobic layer due to a wicking action and is absorbed by said side section hydrophilic outer layer wherein moisture is retained by said side section hydrophobic outer layer until it evaporates, and C) an edge section, comprising an edge section hydrophilic outer layer covering said hydrophilic inner layer, wherein said edge section hydrophilic outer layer has a denier greater than the denier of said side section hydrophilic outer layer for increased durability. 10) The golf club head cover as in claim 7, further comprising a window attached to said edge section hydrophilic outer layer wherein said window permits the viewing of the number engraved on said golf club in said golf club head cover. 